Hablo Español = I speak Spanish.
For a significant number of our patient families, the challenge of fully understanding medical treatments and sometimes complicated explanations are even more difficult. That’s because either the patient or family members speak a native language other than English.
As a medical facility, this issue is vital because clear communication with patients and their families is essential to everything we do.
It was an employee who approached Patient Experience Director Katherine “Kat” Salkanovic that triggered an idea to help address the needs of these families. After hearing the concept, Kat wondered, could something as simple as a button that says Hablo Español help?
It turns out it did!
Salkanovic says she’s had patient family members come to her with tears in their eyes thanking her for identifying those employees who can assist them in the Spanish language.
“We have a lot of patients who speak Spanish, and we know that having the ability to speak to someone in their native language is helpful, reassuring, and builds trust. We also have many employees who speak Spanish. Still, there was nothing suggesting they speak Spanish – so this was an easy way to let our patient families easily recognize those who can help them,” said Salkanovic.
There are about 20 employees who wear buttons. They include nurses, medical assistants, and providers, and you’ll find them throughout the clinic, including the front desk, and at check-out.
For those patient families who speak a language other than Spanish, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation also provides access to a translation program that offers language assistance for medical appointments in more than 200 different languages. Anyone with questions about this service can learn more when they check-in at the front desk.
